Heathrow Arrival Timing
Hello everyone!
I’m excited to share that I’m getting married about 2.5 hours outside the city! For our out-of-town guests who prefer not to drive or take the train, we’re providing a bus service with two departure times.
We’re trying to estimate how long it typically takes for guests arriving at Heathrow on Tuesday afternoon to deplane, collect their checked luggage, and make it to the curb. I know this can vary quite a bit, but we need to settle on a time. We’re also prepared with contingency plans for those who may arrive later.
If you were in my situation, what would your best estimate be? Your input would be greatly appreciated!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Timing for passengers at Heathrow can be quite variable, but I can share some general guidelines based on typical experiences.
For international flights, you might expect it to take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours from landing to being ready to leave the airport.
Here’s a rough breakdown of the process:
Deplaning: This can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the aircraft and where you’re seated.
Passport control: Typically, this can take about 30 minutes, but during peak times, it might stretch to 45 minutes or more.
Baggage claim: Waiting for checked luggage generally takes around 15 to 30 minutes.
Customs and exiting: This usually takes an additional 10 to 20 minutes.
Taking all of that into account, I would suggest planning for around 1.5 to 2 hours as a safe estimate for someone deplaning at Heathrow on a Tuesday afternoon.
To be on the safe side, you might want to schedule the bus times with a little buffer, especially since people might encounter unexpected delays. Good luck with everything, and I hope it all goes smoothly for your wedding day!